Start Time at the Adirondak Loj: 10:00 AM

Weather: mid to upper 80's and very humid

Started on the far end of the parking lot at the Adirondak Loj.  The Van Hoevenberg Trail (ADK #61) to Marcy Dam was easy - even with the packs.  Slightly muddy.  Made really good time getting to Marcy Dam.  Views of Mt. Colden were beautiful!  Ate a quick "energy" bar and continued on the Avalanche Pass Trail (ADK #68).  We stopped at the tent sites directly across the trail from Marcy Brook Lean-To.

After setting up our tent, Tim strapped on the day pack, and we hiked to Avalanche Pass and Avalanche Lake.  The most recent avalanche was in 1999.  The destruction is so huge, it's incredible.  Unfortunately, the walk was REALLY HARD and Valerie got tired after about a mile and a half.  We took a short rest on a rock at the edge of Avalanche Lake, then returned back to the camp site.

There is a food-hanging cable system at that site.  We had our bear barrel, but we still decided to try the hanging system, since that meant that we could put the utensils and toiletries up there too.

Click here to see a movie of Marcy Brook at Lunch (only if you have a high-speed connection!)

Click here to see a movie of Avalanche Lake (only if you have a high-speed connection!)

Mileage for the day: about 6 miles

IMG_1138.JPG	View from Marcy Dam
IMG_1139.JPG	Mt Colden from Marcy Dam
IMG_1140.JPG	Another view from Marcy Dam
IMG_1142.JPG	Our obligatory self-portrait
IMG_1144.JPG	Tim with Mt. Colden in the background
IMG_1145.JPG	Valerie with Mt Colden in the background
IMG_1146.JPG	Tim, on a rock, in the brook, during our lunch break
IMG_1148.JPG	Avalanche Pass - looking up the mountain where the trees and dirt used to be
IMG_1149.JPG	More pictures of the devastation at Avalanche Pass.  The most recent Avalanche was 1999.  A path had to be cut out of the debris so that the trail would be accessible again.
IMG_1151.JPG	Another view up Avalanche Pass.
IMG_1152.JPG	Piles of debris.
IMG_1153.JPG	Valerie next to a large rock wall between Avalanche Pass and Avalanche Lake.
IMG_1154.JPG	Large cliffs near Avalanche Lake.
IMG_1155.JPG	Small stream
IMG_1156.JPG	Avalanche Lake
IMG_1157.JPG
IMG_1159.JPG
IMG_1161.JPG
IMG_1164.JPG
IMG_1166.JPG
IMG_1171.JPG	"Chez Charboneau" - Home Sweet Home
IMG_1174.JPG	Our food, and another camper's bag also, hanging in the cable system so that the bears can't reach it.
IMG_1175.JPG	Rules about the food hanging system.